[cmnahrwold]

Need your insight about two versus that Jesus says during HIs stay on Earth. I do not think I fully understand what they mean because it seems as though they say two complete different things. Appears to be a contradiction, but I know it is just my poor understanding.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Mt 7:13-14

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt 8: 11-12

[SERay]

The first scripture is about path choice. To choose the narrow path, filled with joy and willingness to do so, I edge along the difficult path given us by Christ. No longer consumed with the lusts of the world, money, position, prestige, possessions... they are merely survival requirements, not to be our passions. We separate ourselves from those who have no love for Christ as best friends (2 Cor. 6:14-18)... that comes natural if we truly pursue Christ. We no longer are slaves to our flesh, rather we bring our body into submission to the Holy Spirit, for we house his presence. We no longer get drunk, we no longer use people, we no longer are predators for sexual conquest, we do not feel comfortable about lying, we do not steal, we do not speak evil of others in gossip... and on it goes. All these aversions are naturally instilled within us when the Holy Spirit dwells. He makes us uncomfortable with the old ways. The narrow path is the very fine line we have to consider and submit too, but is natural to fulfill IF we remain in his Spirit by submissive obedience.

The other verse is talking about those people who choose to walk the narrow path, and now they are in eternity, sharing the same space as the famous prophets who lived before us. We will recognize those who choose the narrow path in Christ and fellowship with them all with equal access. There will be no distinction of educated and uneducated, pastor and congregation, but we will walk freely among each another. The saints will come from every land, and share the same glory. The phrase "east and the west" commonly used in Jewish literature means the farthest reach in both directions.

"But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." He's pointing out that, while Jews ("children of the kingdom") will reject him, Gentiles will come from all parts of the world to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. Isaiah had prophesied that the millennium will consist of Jews and Gentiles alike (Isaiah 55-56), a prophetic doctrine that the Jewish leaders weren't too happy with.

Not well written commentary, because I am in a hurry. Hope this helps

[cmnahrwold]

Sorry to be splitting hairs by my prior questions ot those two versus.

It saddens me that so few of people will come to know Jesus "The narrow gate". Makes me want to desperately share the gospel. Why do I deserve to be one of the lucky ones, who has heard the truth and accepted it? I am so thankful that God did not give up on me and continues not to give up on me to spare me from a reality that I can not even come close to imagining.

[SERay]

Great questions.

When you read the sower of the seed in Matthew 13, some fell on the path and was eaten by birds (birds often represents evil or Satan in Hebrew literature, Doves represent light or holiness), some fell in the weeds or thorns as said in some translations (cares of world choked out truth), some fell upon the rocky places that prospered only for a time (hearts hardened due to the love of sin) and some on fertile soil (souls seeking for truth). That is a loose equation, only 25% of the seed (Gospel) sowed (shared) found a place to grow (hearts open to received). The rest died away or failed to germinate (75% of what was sown). This is a generalized expected return of the gospel... only a small percentage will respond. However, we are not to be tally keepers, but passionately adamant to share the gospel, because those who have ears will hear.

And yes, that statement "Why do I deserve to be one of the lucky ones" is partially what Grace is about. Charles Haddon Spurgeon spoke of it often, so did Billy Sunday and Dwight L. Moody. It is the mystery of Grace, that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). Predestination as it is called, would tell us that from the foundations of the earth, the Creator knew already who would hear and who would not. The Calvinist would say, "preach the gospel to awaken the elect... for they are predestined to be found." I am not exactly persuaded by many of the Calvinist views. However, we are to be willing tools in the Masters hands to this end, to share the gospel with all to harvest the few. Again, it is profound Grace that God would use a reconstituted fallen man to share the gospel with other fallen men. That the Father would use the very vessels that are objects of wrath to share good news with those who are also condemned.

As the disciples asked, "Then who shall be saved?" and Christ said "What is impossible with men is possible with God. For with God all things are possible. Peter began to say to Him, Lo, we have left all and followed You. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall leave what is his own, parents, and brethren, and possessions, for My sake and the Gospel's, shall receive an hundred-fold now in this world, lands, and possessions, and house, and brethren, with persecutions; and in the world to come is life everlasting. But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:27 and Luke 18:27) If we forego our passions to the world, we shall discover the riches hidden in the Spirit, ONLY to be realized and found by those who fully yield, not before... after. Always sacrifice first, then realization.

We should pray as the Saints before us, "Place within us a passion, a Holy Spirit fire that motivates and opens our eyes to see the nature of our condition as God sees it. That God would purge from us the desire for worldly pleasures and acquisitions, only to pursue those things that amount to eternity. Teach us to understand what it is to be militant for a Kingdom for which eye cannot see. Build us up in the faith so that the essence of the Spirit within fully overshadows the persuasions of the world." Amen